The New England Revolution formally introduced the signing of 21-year-old Israeli striker Dor Turgeman from Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday, offering a late-season increase up entrance and a promising younger expertise for the membership’s future.
Negotiations between all sides took a couple of days, and Turgeman had a number of suitors, together with Rangers of the Scottish Premiership. The Revolution received the deal completed by reportedly paying Maccabi Tel Aviv a $6 million switch charge, plus $1 million in add-ons and a 25% sell-on clause, in accordance with Sky Sports activities. Turgeman’s wage shouldn’t be but publicly obtainable, however the Revolution have signed him by 2028 with a membership choice for 2029, and he’ll occupy one of many roster’s U22 Initiative slots.
That is the Revolution’s second marquee acquisition this summer season, as Turgeman follows the arrival of U.S. nationwide workforce goalkeeper Matt Turner, who returned to the membership on mortgage from Olympique Lyonnais as a Designated Participant on Aug. 1.
New England (7-12-7, 28 factors) has not had a constant scorer amongst its corps of strikers this season, one of many causes the workforce is 11 factors out of a wild card spot within the Japanese Convention playoff race. With eight video games remaining — beginning with a go to to the Columbus Crew on Saturday night time — the Revolution stay alive mathematically, however a postseason berth would require a steep climb, even with Turgeman’s addition.
A brand new attacking weapon
Whereas Turgeman’s arrival solves the necessity for extra attacking depth, he wasn’t bought to easily fill a roster spot. He’s right here to attain objectives, which at occasions have been onerous to come back by for the Revolution. With 33, the membership ranks among the many backside third of MLS groups in scoring this season.
Turgeman has recorded 32 objectives and 10 assists in 114 appearances throughout all competitions for Maccabi Tel Aviv. Whether or not his kind continues in MLS stays to be seen, however he can be outfitted with one of many league’s finest probability creators in Revolution captain Carles Gil, who additionally leads the membership with 9 objectives and 9 assists.
Head coach Caleb Porter informed the Herald at coaching this week that Leonardo Campana, who the Revolution acquired for $2.5 million from Inter Miami CF through the offseason, stays a starter regardless of Turgeman’s acquisition. Campana has tallied three objectives in his final 5 appearances, however his means to complete probabilities has been uneven all through the season.
Worldwide pedigree
Turgeman drew consideration nicely past MLS, with VfL Wolfsburg and Leeds United reportedly monitoring his progress alongside Rangers and the Revolution. He burst onto the worldwide scene on the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the place his quarterfinal aim in opposition to Brazil helped propel Israel to a historic semifinal berth.
He’s additionally changing into a fixture with the senior workforce, which is within the thick of a fierce marketing campaign to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Turgeman has made 10 senior workforce appearances and scored in a 4-2 qualification loss to Norway in March, although Israel’s World Cup hopes stay intact.
Switch investments proceed
Turgeman’s arrival extends a current development of the Revolution investing closely in international attacking expertise. Whereas the membership doesn’t disclose switch charges, experiences counsel he may very well be at minimal the workforce’s third-most costly striker signing ever.
The Revolution have constructed a popularity for growing younger expertise — each home and worldwide — and transferring them on to larger European golf equipment. Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, now beginning within the English Premier League with Bournemouth, joined Chelsea in 2023 for a reported $20 million after New England had signed him from FK Čukarički for simply $1 million the 12 months earlier than. Different notable gross sales embrace 2017 MLS SuperDraft decide Tajon Buchanan to Membership Brugge for $7 million in 2021; Polish striker Adam Buksa to RC Lens in 2022 for $10 million (after becoming a member of the Revolution for $4.5 million from Poland’s Pogon Szczecin), and homegrown winger Esmir Bajraktarevic to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven earlier this 12 months for $6 million.
Buchanan, who represented Canada on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, went on to play for Inter Milan and is now with Villarreal. Buksa, in the meantime, has performed in France, Turkey, and Denmark, and is reportedly near becoming a member of Udinese in Italy’s Serie A.
Israel connection
Turgeman is the second Israeli participant in Revolution historical past, becoming a member of present fullback and nationwide workforce teammate Ilay Feingold, who arrived this winter as a U-22 Initiative signing.
Feingold got here from Maccabi Haifa — a rival of Turgeman’s former membership, Maccabi Tel Aviv. The 2 sides are Israel’s most adorned, with present reigning champions Tel Aviv holding 26 league titles to Haifa’s 15.
As a result of Israel is a part of UEFA, its golf equipment are eligible to compete yearly in continental European membership tournaments such because the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Turgeman has had some publicity to each competitions. He scored in a bunch match in opposition to Actual Sociedad in final 12 months’s Europa League, showing in seven of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s eight group stage video games. He additionally appeared in each Champions League qualifiers in opposition to Pafos FC this July.
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